Wesley Jonathan teams up with Cedric the Entertainer in new television show Soul man

Kam Williams |
6/27/2013, 6 a.m.

Wesley Jonathan is a multi-talented actor who has a new role in The Soul Man.

Tell me a little about your character, Stamps?

Stamps is Cedric’s younger brother. He’s a wacky, wisecracking character, and you never know what’s going to come out of his mouth. He doesn’t take life seriously, doesn’t have a job, and is always saying whatever random thoughts come to mind.

You’ve enjoyed an enduring career that began when you were only 8. How did you manage to avoid the pitfalls of fame that have ensnared so many other child actors?

Well, there’s a big difference between being a child actor and being a child star. I was a child actor. I worked a lot as a kid, but the weight that a child star has to bear is far more than that of a child actor. It’s extremely heavy. Secondly, my mother is from a rough area of East St. Louis, and she just wasn’t having any craziness. Third, I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, which was a strict upbringing that helped me stay in line. I also learned what not to do from watching mistakes other people were making. And I had big dreams and I was motivated to help my mother. So, I didn’t want to screw up. Drugs and other stuff were never a temptation. I guess I had an old soul.

When was the last time you had a good laugh?

That’s a great question. It was while filming on set about a week ago. I was doing my best not to laugh while Cedric was going off. I can’t give away exactly what he did, but let’s just say he ate a brownie laced with something that caused him to behave in a way that was hysterical. I’ll leave it at that.

What was the last book you read?

That’s interesting. Right now I’m reading It’s Hard to Fight Naked by Niecy Nash. It’s an advice book about relationships. If you know her, you can hear her voice in the book. It’s really good!

What was the last song you listened to?

Don’t Be Cruel by Bobby Brown.

What excites you?

I like work. [LOL] By that I mean I like quality work. A good script … a good show … a good movie… anything I can be proud of and not have to be nervous about watching when it comes out. That excites me. When someone like yourself wants to interview me, that excites me. When little kids recognize me on the street and come up to me it’s exciting, because it’s genuine with no motive behind it. That’s a really clean kind of love. What a blessing!

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

I see a young man who is trying to be seen and appreciated by the masses for his work.

If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

To no longer be overlooked by the industry.

What’s the difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person you pretend to be on the red carpet?